Readers ask Jake & Tidbits

"Signing Neal Huntington for two years doesn't make sense." -- JM, Cambridge Massachusetts

Agreed. However don't forget, I couldn't confirm it was for two years - only that is what others around the game are saying which I assume initially came from someone Huntington attempted to hire. I'd guess one of the newspaper reporters will try to find out something now because it's very newsworthy if true.

"Do you think Robert Nutting has a rabbit up his sleeve?" FG, Altoona Pennsylvania 

LoL - good question. One of the readers asked a similar question - is it possible the Huntington hire was just for show to disguise Nutting's real intention of wanting to put together a one-year run before rebuilding?

No. While the Nutting clan has banked more profits than you or I will dream about in a lifetime, there's virtually no way to pull it off without spending two to three times the value for each free agent he wants to sign for just the one year period. And what if it goes bust by June? It's just not worth the risk.

"I haven't heard you say much about Bob Walk for manager." SW, Bascom Ohio

Great guy, but I don't think Walkie is the right mix for the clubhouse problems we have right now.

"The new schedule is out Jake." CS, Beaver Pennsylvania

They play the first 45 games with essentially two days off and have only five days off the first 11 weeks. Whew.

They also play 29 games at the very end with just two days off, make three west coast three-game series trips without a day off in between any of them, and open and close the year on the road.

Not exactly a favorable schedule on first glance.

--

Andrew McCutchen's AFL Journal is now live. A tip of the hat to MLB's Jonathan Mayo for his help with Cutch's project. Pop over and show your support by asking Cutch a question or two.

--

Despite the second worst fielding percentage of all qualified left fielders in MLB last year and being ranked 60th of all qualified MLB outfielders in win shares for 2007, Bay's real value to the Pirates was about eleven million last year based on all other players and their production.